Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as one of Nigeria’s most enduring and successful institutions for promoting nation-building, national integration, and unity.
The governor made the remarks on Friday during the official opening and swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch “B” Stream II orientation course for corps members in Plateau State.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Musa Ashoms, Mutfwang said that for more than five decades, the NYSC had played a vital role in fostering national integration, promoting cultural understanding, and strengthening unity among Nigerians.
He noted that the scheme provides young Nigerians with opportunities to live, learn, and serve in communities outside their states of origin, contributing to the country’s vision of a united and prosperous nation.
The governor described Plateau as a state that exemplifies resilience, peaceful coexistence, and the determination of its diverse communities to live together in harmony.
He urged the corps members to make the most of their deployment by learning about the state’s rich cultural diversity and contributing meaningfully to the development of their host communities.
Mutfwang also advised the newly sworn-in corps members to pay close attention to the orientation course, strictly observe the NYSC bye-laws, and embrace the values of discipline, patriotism, self-reliance, and leadership throughout their service year.
“Uphold the core values of discipline, patriotism and selfless service, and perform your duties with diligence,” he said.
The governor further encouraged the corps members to become positive agents of transformation by rejecting misinformation, divisive narratives, and other actions capable of undermining national unity.
He assured them that their safety remained a top priority for his administration, adding that the state government would continue working closely with security agencies to sustain the peace and stability restored in Plateau.
“Let me assure you that your safety and well-being are top priorities for my administration.
“We will continue to work closely with all relevant security agencies to safeguard peace and stability throughout the state,” he said.
Earlier, the Plateau State NYSC Coordinator, Jonathan Yavala, urged the corps members to participate actively in all camp activities, particularly the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
He said the initiative was designed to equip participants with practical skills that would prepare them for the service year and life after the NYSC.
Yavala also commended the Plateau State Government for its continued support for the scheme.
A total of 3,011 corps members registered for the 2026 Batch “B” Stream II orientation exercise in the state, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
